Major sargassum seaweed invasion in Playa Del Carmen triggers severe level 7 warning
Travelers’ beach experiences are constantly being disrupted by sargassum seaweed. It definitely makes swimming uncomfortable and detracts from a beach’s aesthetic appeal.
According to the most recent bulletin from the Mexican Secretariat of the Navy (Semar), Playa del Carmen is once more observing an upsurge in the influx of sargassum, which has placed the Mexican Caribbean on alert level 7, meaning that it is indeed overly abundant.
“The sargassum accumulates in less than 24 hours in mounds 70 to 90 centimeters high,” Semar said, covering almost the entire beach area and making it impossible to move on foot or with machines.”
The beaches that were hit the hardest by sargassum this Saturday were Playa El Recodo, Mamitas, Shangri-la, and the beaches from Calle 12 to Piñatas. They were all covered in a dreadful amount of seaweed, according to Traveling Lifestyle.
On a positive note, workers from the Solidaridad Federal Maritime Terrestrial Zone Directorate (Zofemat) were able to remove about 14 tons of macroalgae from El Recodo beach on Saturday, despite some additional arrival of the seaweed.
Additionally, more sargassum is expected in the Quintana Roo region, where Cancun, Playa del Carmen, and other well-known beach resorts are situated, as the peak of the season typically occurs between June and August.
Travel Off Path reports that the current sargassum crisis should be kept in mind by the many Americans who are considering Cancun for their next vacations. Punta Molas, Playa Xhanan, and Playa El Castillo are the Cozumel beaches with the highest concentrations of sargassum seaweed, according to recent data from the Quintana Roo Sargassum Monitoring Network released on Facebook.
The beaches of Playacar Ferry, Playacar ZH Fase1, and Playa El Recodo are the worst hit in Playa del Carmen. The sargassum levels on Cancun’s beaches are rather low.
According to a report by REPORTUR.mx, the University of Florida predicts that this year’s arrival of Sargassum in the Mexican Caribbean would be more than in prior years, but that the afflicted beaches will experience months with a lower incidence of the macroalgae.
Traveling Lifestyle also notes that from September to March, sargassum is less common in Quintana Roo’s coasts. It is more common in the state’s center and south, but less common in Cancun and Isla Mujeres.
Evie Blanco is a journalist with nearly a decade of experience who was born in the Dominican Republic and raised in Queens, New York. She is extremely well-versed in hip-hop music and culture and is always aware of any developments within it. Whether it’s the latest in pop culture, a fascinating foreign destination, a truly amazing new restaurant, or breaking news, she loves to write about it all.
This story was originally published April 20, 2023 at 5:59 PM.